Matthew 26.17 - 35

The Traitor

17On the first of the Days of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and said, "Where do you want us to prepare your Passover meal?"

18-19He said, "Enter the city. Go up to a certain man and say, 'The Teacher says, My time is near. I and my disciples plan to celebrate the Passover meal at your house.'" The disciples followed Jesus' instructions to the letter, and prepared the Passover meal.

20-21After sunset, he and the Twelve were sitting around the table. During the meal, he said, "I have something hard but important to say to you: One of you is going to hand me over to the conspirators."

22They were stunned, and then began to ask, one after another, "It isn't me, is it, Master?"

23-24Jesus answered, "The one who hands me over is someone I eat with daily, one who passes me food at the table. In one sense the Son of Man is entering into a way of treachery well-marked by the Scriptures—no surprises here. In another sense that man who turns him in, turns traitor to the Son of Man—better never to have been born than do this!"

The Bread and the Cup

26-29During the meal, Jesus took and blessed the bread, broke it, and gave it to his disciples:

Take, eat. This is my body.Taking the cup and thanking God, he gave it to them:

Drink this, all of you. This is my blood, God's new covenant poured out for many people for the forgiveness of sins."I'll not be drinking wine from this cup again until that new day when I'll drink with you in the kingdom of my Father."

30They sang a hymn and went directly to Mount Olives.

Gethsemane

31-32Then Jesus told them, "Before the night's over, you're going to fall to pieces because of what happens to me. There is a Scripture that says,

I'll strike the shepherd; helter-skelter the sheep will be scattered.But after I am raised up, I, your Shepherd, will go ahead of you, leading the way to Galilee."

33Peter broke in, "Even if everyone else falls to pieces on account of you, I won't."

34"Don't be so sure," Jesus said. "This very night, before the rooster crows up the dawn, you will deny me three times."

35Peter protested, "Even if I had to die with you, I would never deny you." All the others said the same thing.

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